Thursday, February 21, 2013

Chores for Kids: Starter Lists

Our latest on Helping Kids Help Themselves is about giving kids the responsibility of chores. Take the first step by creating a list of chores appropriate for your child's age. Use these starter lists as guides and create your own chore lists in Cozi, where it's easy to save and manage lists.

When it comes to helping kids help themselves, I think the biggest barrier we face as parents is that it's often faster and easier to just to do it ourselves. But taking the time to get children involved when they're young–and eager to help–is an important part of giving them the skills they need as they get older. After all, our job as parents is to raise productive adults, right?

Daily and weekly chores also help teach our kids discipline and the importance of routines which will help them when they're running their own households.

It doesn't mean they need to spend hours a day doing chores, but a few small chores lays the foundation for a myriad of life lessons–from practical skills to responsibility and contributing to the family unit.

Here are some age-appropriate chores for kids of all ages:

Chores for 2 and 3 year olds

Two- and three-year-olds are especially eager to help with household chores, especially when you're by their side. Rather than asking them to pick up toys and then walking away, make clean up fun by turning it into a game. Invite them to dust the lower shelves and furniture while you're dusting the higher places. And praise them for pitching in with a happy heart!

Pick up toys

Put dirty clothes in hamper

Dust furniture

Chores for 4 and 5 year olds

Four- and five-year-olds are capable of a lot more than we often give them credit for. Although it's not a required chore in our home, my preschooler loves to show off her neatly made bed, and she's a huge help at emptying trash cans, straightening the shoes by the front door and more!

Make bed

Put clean laundry away

Wipe window sills

Empty small trash cans

Chores for 6 and 7 year olds

I've heard many mothers of older children say that everything gets easier when kids turn six or seven years old because they are suddenly able to really help in a way that makes a difference, and we're already seeing this with our six-year-old. She is a great help and loves to be given responsibilities that her younger sisters don't yet have. That's not to say we never deal with bad attitudes when it comes to chores, but for the most part she's still a willing helper!

Make lunch

Help fold clothes

Vacuum

Wipe bathroom sink*

*Vinegar is an amazing natural cleaner and safer than traditional chemicals for children (and adults too!) to use. Read more about green cleaning.

Chores for 8 year olds and older

While eight year olds are certainly still kids and need plenty of time to play and just run free, they're also able to help out around the house at an age appropriate level. Now is a great time to start teaching them to do laundry, cook simple dishes, take out the trash and more!